Conveyer system



F. L. STUART.

CONVEYER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-12.1917.

1 39,486, Patented May 11, 1920.

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Inventor:

F'r-ancis Lee Stu r't. b5%%&' His fit. 0 Q55 F. L. STUART.

CONVEYER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION men ocr.12.191z.

Patented, May 11,1920.

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5.585 45555 uFzrPSw Q Inventor: Francs Lee F. L. STUART.

CONVEYER SYSTEM.

Patented May 11, 1920.

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UNITED STATES "PA ENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS LEE STUART, OF GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT.

CON VEYER SYSTEM.

Application filed October 12, 1917.

To all irlmm it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS Len S'rUAn'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenwich, in the county of Fairfield and 1 State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyer Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for conveying material from one place to another by means of endless belts and the like, and it provides improved means whereby the material is quickly and efiiciently handled.

More specifically, my invention relates to conveyor systems having a plurality of traveling conveyors such as a succession of endless belts or the like, arranged to transfer material from suitable receptacles, such as storage bins, hoppers and the like, to other receptacles at a distance, and it has for one of its objects the provision of an improved arrangement whereby the belts are started and stopped and generally controlled in a safe, reliable and efficient man ner.

In certain of its aspects, my invention is particularly applicable to a eonveyer system such as shown, described and claimed in my pending application, Serial No. 55,620, filed Oct. 13, 1915, as well as the arrangements disclosed in my Letters Patent No. 1,192,016, granted July 25, 1916, No. 1,20i,203, granted November 7. 1916, No. 1,207,237, granted December 5, 1916, No. 1,230,236, granted June 19, 1917, and No. 12311449, granted June 26, 1917, and those skilled in the art will readily understand the adaptation of the principle of this invention to arrangements embodying the features of those former applications for patents.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention will be definitely indicated in the claims appended hereto; the features of construction, mode of operation. and further objects of my invent-ion will be readily understood from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein I have shown an embodiment of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a simplified diagram of a plan view of a conveyor system having a plurality of endless belts adapted to convey material from cans to vessels or the like located at a distance; Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11., 1920.

Serial No. 196,187.

a certain arrangement of belts; Fig. 2 shows an elevation of the s stem shown In Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows in simpiified diagram a control for the driving motors of the system shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fi 4 shows in simplified diagram a control F r the drivin motors which embodies the features of Fig. 3 but has means combined with the arrangement of Fig. 3 for accomplishing further objects; Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive, are details of certain features of Fig. 4.

Referrin to Figs. 1 and 2, the car 1, having coal or other material which it is desired shall be delivered to the ship 2, is adapted to be held in the pivoted cradle 3 which is elevated by any suitable means so that the coal or other material will spill from the car into the lowering bin 4. a While a car is being emptied the lowering bin is held in the elevated position shown in dotted lines .in Fig. 2 so that the 'material will pour out of the car with but a slight drop, thereby reducing breakage of the material. This lowering bin is adapted to be lowered and raised by the cable 5, the arrangement being such that after the material from the car 1 has been transferred to this lowering bin, it is lowered from the dotted to the full line position gradually so that the coal or other material in the bin will not be broken by reason of being suddenly dropped into the hopper 6. Associated with this hopper 6 is a feeder belt 7 driven by any suitable motor, such as an electric motor 8; The hopper is provided with delivery ends 9 and 10 through which the material is lowered to the main conveyer belts 11 and 11. respectively. The main oonveyer-belt 11 is of the endless type and is suitably reeved so that the effective portion of the belt may be lengthened or shortened as desired, as fully explained in my former application forpatent Serial No. 55,620. This belt 11 is driven by any suitable motor, such as an electric motor 12, and it is adapted to deliver the material to the hopper 13, through which it is-permitted to slide to the endless belt 14 which delivers it to the ship 2. This endless belt 14 is' adapted to be driven by any suitable motor, such as the electric motor 15. a

.\ss0ciated with the main conveyer belt 11 at some suitable place between the receiving and delivery end of this belt is a stora e bin 16. Material from the hopper 6 is elivered through the chute 10 to the belt 11" which transfers the material to a suitable hopper (not shown) and from there it is delivered to the storage bin 16 by the endless belt 17. Associated with the chute 10 is a feeder belt (not shown), similar to the belt 7 associated with the. main conveyor belt 11, and this belt like the feeder belt 7, is driven by a suitable, motor such as the electric motor 18. The delivery belt 17 is likewise driven by any suitablemotorsuch as the .electric motor-:19. The storage bin 16 is provided with two pivoted directing delivery chutes 20 and 21 which are ordinarily held up out of the was of the material on the belt 11 by means 0- the counter weights 22 and 23, respectively. The feeder belt 24, associated with the chute 21 is adapted to be driven by the electric motor 25 and the feeder belt 26 is adapted to be driven by the electric motor 27.

In Fig; 3 I have shown 'a control for the driving motors of Figs. 1 and 2 whereby I am able to obtain certain of the objects of my invention. This. control is d agrammatic and is'intended to serve merely as an illustration of means for carrying my invention into effect. The control for the belts '11, 17, and the feeder belt not shown, has been omitted for the sake of clearness, since those skilled in the art will readily understand the. adaptation of the control em bodied in the arrangement for drivin the belts 7, 11, 14, 24 and 26. shown in Fig. 3,

to the control of the belts for supplying the brought up to an appreciable speed before the motor driving the main conveyer belt 11 is started. After this main convey-er belt 11 is started and brought up to an appreciable speed, the feeder belt 7 is started so,as to deliver material to the system of belts. By having thesebelts start in this manner practically no material will be spilled, because each belt will be brought up to practically full operating speed before any material is delivered to it from the next preceding belt of the system. In order to provide a ainst the material being spilled when the be ts are stopped, I arrange the control in such a manner that the feeder belt 7 is stopped first, the main conveyer next and finally the delivery belt 14 stopped last. By this arrangement, no material can be spilled from one of the belts in the series to a belt which is stationary, since the delivery of the material to each belt is stopped before the motion of the belt itself is arrested. If desired, the carrying surface of the belts l1 and 14 can be made of such size that material will not be delivered to these belts faster than they can satisfactorily carry off that is, the belt 11 shall be wider than the feeder belt 7 and the belt 14 shall'ii'e wider than the belt 11, as shown in Fig. 1.

In order to provide for regulating the amount of material delivered by the conveying system, I provide for varying the speed of the feeder belt from the delivery end of the system, or for operating the belts a portion of the time. bince the amount that each belt can carry away from the preceding belt of the system is fairly accu- While my arrangement is such that the speeds of the motors driving the belts 7, 11 and 14, can ordinarily be independently varied, they cannot be varied to such an extent that this efiective relation between the various belts is destroyed. I also provide means whereby the amount of material delivered is controllable from any suitable place, such as the delivery end of the system, by simultaneously varying the speedsof all the belts of the system. The arrangement is such, however, that the belt speeds are varied )roportionately so as to preserve the most e ective relation between the speeds of the various belts.

In order to avoid wear on the feeder T and main belt 11 due to the material being droppeddirectly from the lowering bin 4 throu h the hopper 6 on to these belts, I provide for always retaining a certain amount of material in the hopper (3 to act as a cushion for-receiving the next load from the lowering bin, the arrangement being such that when the material has been fully discharged from the lowering bin 4 to the hopper 6, the lowering bin is raised from its seat by means such as a spring 28, 7

thereby operating a. switching arrangement to stop the motor 8 driving the feeder belt 7. lVhen the lowering bin is again seated by a predetermined weight in the bin, this switching mechanism is operated to automatically start up the motor 8 so as to feed material to the main conreyer belt. This starting and stopping of the feeder belt, dependent upon the material in the hopper and thelowering bin, is entirely automatic and independent of the control by the operator at the delivery end of tie system. However, in order to save power and belt wear I have arranged the control for the driving motors so that if desired, the main discharge belts are automatically stopped in sequence after the feeder belt has been stopped and after the main belt has discharged its material to the dischage belt 14 at the end of the system. When the lowering bin is again seated by a predetermined weight of material, the belts are again automatically started in the proper sequence, that is, belt 14 first, 11 second and the feeder belt 7 last.

In order to insure that the material will he continously delivered to the vessel or the like which is to be filled, I have provided the storage bin 16. The control for the belts supplying the material to this bin is similar to the control for the belt supplying material to the ship 2 and will not be further described since-the principle of operation is the same as that'which will be described in connection with the belt system 7 11- and 14. Assuming that there is a suitable amount of material in the storage bin 16, and that the supply from-the cars at the receiving end of the system has temporarily ceased, and that it is desired that the delivery of the material to the ship shallcontinue I have provided an arrangement whereby after the feeder belt '4' has stopped and the material on the belt 11 has proceeded past the storage bin 16, either the chute 2001' 21 will be lowered so as to deliver material to the main conveyer 11, the arrangement being such that the proper sequence of starting and stopping for the belts 24: or 26 and the belts 11 and 14 will be preserved in the same manner as that indicated above in connection with the belts 7 11 and 14, that is, in stopping, either belt 24 or 26 depending upon the one being used, will be stopped first, the belt 11 next and finally belt lllast. Likewise in starting the belt l4'will be started first, the belt 11 second and the belt-24 or 26 last. \Vhen the delivery of material to the hopper 6 has again been resume the chutes 21,20 are automatically elevafted from the main belt, the feeder belts 24, 26 are stopped and the feeder belt 7 automatically started.

Referring now to Fi 3, the electric motor 15 driving the elivery belt 14 is adapted to be started by means comprising the electromagnetic line switch or contactor 29, and the accelerating contactor-s 30 and 31, which are of the well known series type adapted to hold open until the motor current at starting has dropped to a predetermined value, are closed in succession thereby short circuiting sections of the starting resistance. The contactor 30 in closing is adapted to short circuit the starting resistconveyor ance 32 and also include the series operating coil of the contactor 31 in the motor circuit and the contactor 31 is adapted to close when the motor current has again dropper! to the predetermined value and short circuit the starting resistance 33. A variable rheostat 34 in circuit with the shunt field 35 of the motor 15 is provided for varying the speed of this motor independently of the speeds of the other driving motors of the system. The motor 12 driving the main belt is likewise started by means of a control similar to the starting arrangement for the motor 15. For the sake of simplicity this automatic gradual starter has not been shown, but is indicated at 36. The motor 8 driving the feeder belt 7 is likewise gradually started by means of a similarstarter indicated at 37, and the motors 25, and 27 driving the feeder belts 21 and 26, respectively, are started by means of similar starting arrangements indicated at 38 and 39, respectively.

The speed of the driving motor 12 of the main belt 11 .is independently varied by means of the field rheostat 40' and the speed of the motor 8 is likewise varied by means of the field rheostat 41, the arrangement being similar to that described in connection with the driving motor 15 for the discharge belt 14. The belts 14', 11 and 7 are started in the succession named by means of an electromagnetic switch 42 which controls the line contactor29 for the motor 15, as well as the line contactor 43 for the motor 10 12 and the line contactor 44 of the motor 8. The switch 42 has a dash-pot 45'wliich provides a definite time interval between the starting of the different motors. A dashpot 46 is also provided to give a definite time interval for stopping the motors in succession. The operation of this switch 42 is such that the motor 8 driving the feeder belt 7 will be first stopped and then after a definite'interval the motor 12 driving the main belt 11 will be stopped. and finally after a definite time interval the motor 15 driving the delivery belt 14 will be stopped.

In orderto provide for varying the speeds of themotors 8, '12 and 14 simultaneously, at the same time preserving the relation between the speeds of the various motors as determined by the setting of the field rheostats 41, 40 and 34, respectively, I have provided a rheostat 47 having an independent section of resistance in each of the motor field circuits. This field rheostat 47 has a common operating member whereby after the switch members of this rheostat are properly adjusted, a movement of the rheostat will vary the speeds of the driving motors S, 12 and 15 simultaneously in the proper proportion.

In order to provide for automatically stopping the belts when material is not besuch that when the material has been delivered from the lowering bin to the hopper and the lowering bin has raised from its seat as before described, the coil of electromagnetic switch 52 will be deenergized and its switch member will drop, denergizin the motors 8, 12 and 15 in succession, de nite time intervals between the denergization of the motors being provided by means of the dash-pot 53 and the spacing of the switch contacts. When the lowering bin is again filled and its weight is such that the contact member 1s depressed so as to make engagement with its contacts, the coil of electromagnetic switch 52 is again energized and the motors are automatically started in the succession 15, 12 and 8, a definite time interval between the starting of these motors being provided by means of the dash-pot 54.

The motor 55 is provided for raisi and lowering the directing chute 20 whi has been provided for delivering material from the storage reservoir 16 to the auxiliary feeder belt 26 and thus to the main conveyer belt 11. The motor 56 is provided for raising and lowering the directing chute 21 associated with the auxiliary feeder belt 24. A movable switch member 57 is operated by the motor 55 and the arrangement is such that when the motor 55 has lowered the chute 20 so as to properly deliver material from the feeder 26, the motor 27 is automatically energized to start the belt 26, at the same time the solenoid brake 58 is energized to hold the motor 55 in the position at which the directing chute 20 is in proper position to deliver material from the belt 26. A similar controller 59 is provided with the motor 56 and is adapted to accomplish the same purpose in connection with this motor that the controller 57 accomplishes in connection with the motor 55.

The arrangement of switches and the circuit connections are such that when the manually operated switch 60 is thrown so as to make engagement with the'lower contacts, and the lowering bin 4 has been raised from its seat in the manner heretofore explained, the motor 8 driving the feeder belt 7 will be deenergized and either the motor 55 or 56, depending upon the position of the controller 61, will be energized to lower its directing chute to a proper position over its corresponding feeder. After either one of these directing delivery chutes has been lowered to such a. position. either the motor 25 or 27, depending upon the delivery chute selected, will be automatically energized to operate its corres nding belt a predetermined interval a er the stoppin of the motor 8 driving the feeder 7. hen material has been supplied to the lowering bin 4 sufiicient to lower the contact members 49-, 50 and 51 into engagement with their respective contacts, the motor 8- driving the feeder 7 is automatically energized and after an interval determined by the setting of the dash-pot 62 of the electromagnetic switch 63, the motors 55 and 56 are deenergized. Assume that the motor 55 has been the one selected for operation, when it is definergized, the electromagnetic line switch 64 is opened and the contact member 65 of this switch is closed, connecting the motor 56. in a dynamic brakin circuit so asto permit the delivery chute 21 to. he raised by the counter weight 23 at a safe speed. The line switch 66 or the motor 55 has. a contact member 67 which likewise includes the mo tor 55 in a dynamic braking circuit when it is denergized.

As thus constructed and arranged, the operation of my invention as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is as follows:

Assuming that the parts are in the various positions shown in the figures, except that the contact members 49, 50 and 51 are in engagement with their respective contacts, and that it is desired to deliver material from the loweri bin 4 to the hopper 6 and from there to the ship 2 at the end of the conveyor system. The controller 61 will first be turned to the position a, and the manually operated switch 68 turned to the left so as to make engagement with its contacts. Upon closing the pilot switch 69, the coil of electromagnetic switch 42 be energized and the contact member of this switch will first make engagement with the contact 70, thereby energizing the electromagnetic line switch 29 for the motor 15 and connecting this motor to the source of supply. The motor 15 be gradually started'through the operation of the series contactors 80 and 31, in a well known manner, and this motor 15 will run at a speed determined by the setting of the field rheostats 34 and 47. After a time interval, determinedby the setting of the dash-pot 45, the switch member 42 will make ment with the contact 71, thereby energizing the electromagnetic line switch 43 for the motor 12, through a circuit from the source of supply, contact member of electromagnetic switch 42, contact 71, through the middle blade of the manually operated switch 68 through the coil of the line contactor 48. to ground. The motor 12 tlnuzcby v be started gradually by the starter 36 and its speed will be determined by the setting of the field rheostats 40 and 47. After a predetermined interval, engagement will be made. with the contact 72, thereby energizing the electromagnetic line switch 44 for motor 8, through a circuit from the source of supply, switch member of electromagnetic switch 42, contact 72, right hand blade of manual switch 68, contact member 51, segments 73 and 74 of controller 61 to ground. (It is understood of course that the switchmembers 49, 50 and 51 are closed since it has been assumed that there is a load of material in the lowering bin 4). The motor 8 is thus energized from the source of supply through acircuit including the contact member of electromagnetic switch 44, upper contact blade of switch 60 through the starter 37. If the switch 69 is closed before the switches 49, 50 and 51 are closed, it will readily be understood that motors 15 and 12 will start in succession but motor 3 will not start until the contact 51 is closed.

In case the speeds of the belts are not such that they will have the proper relation for the most eflicient operation, the speeds of motors 15, 12 and 8 may be independently' varied by means of the field rheostats 34, 40 and 41, respectively. After this proper relation of the speeds of the various belts is determined, in case it is desired to either increase or decrease the output of the convoying system as a whole, this can be done by moving the field rhcostat 47, thereby simultaneously aflecting speeds of the motors and at the same time preserving the proper relation of the different belt speeds. I

The closing of the pilot switch 69 likewise ener izes the coil of electromagnetic switch 52, t 1e circuit being from the source of supplythrough the contact member 50, coil of the switch to ground. This switch will then gradual] raise its contact member, but this will pro uce no effect since the contacts associated with this switch are short cireuited by means of the manual switch 68. Assuming that the belts have operated until the material has been delivered from the lowering bin 4 so that this bin is raised from its seat in accordance with its bias, the contact members 49, 50 and 51 will break en a ement with their respective contacts, an tie circuit for the coil of electromagnetic line switch 44 is opened at the contact member 51. The motor will thereby be deenergized and no further material will be delivered to the main conreyer belt 11. The main conveyer belt and the delivery belt will however continue to run. As soon as the lowering bin 4 receives another supply of material so as to close the contacts 49, 50 and 51, the motor 8 is again automatically started. If it is desired to stop the delivery of material to the belt 11, the controller 61 will be turned to the off position, thereby de energizing the coil of line contactor 44 of motor 8, causing this motor to be deiinergized and the belt 7 to be stopped. The belts 11 and 14 will nevertheless continue to run.

Assuming that the controller 61 is in position a, if it is desired that the main conveyer and delivery belts be also stopped, as well as the feeder belt when the contacts 49, 50 and 51 are raised from engagement with their respective contacts, the manual switch 68 will be thrown to the position shown in the drawing. If new the con tact members 49, 50 and 51 are raised from engagement with their respective contacts due to anelevation of the lowering bin 4 in accordance with its bias, the coil of the electromagnetic switch 52 will be deenergized at the switch member 50 and the switch member will drop gradually under the restraining influence of the dash-pot 53. The s'witchmember 51 will, as before, de energizethe coil of the line contactor 44 for the motor 8 and this motor will thereby be first promptly dcenergized. The electromagnetic switch 52 in dropping will in turn e'nergize the motor 12 at the contacts 75 and the motor 15 at the contacts 76, the motors 8, 12 and 15 being thereby deenergized in the desired succession. The switch members 49, 50 and 51 will be again closed on their contacts when another load of material has been delivered to the lowering bin, as before explained, This will cause the reenergization of the coil of switch 52 and this switch will be gradually raised under the influence of the dash-pot 54, the line contactor 29 for the motor 15 being first ener zed by completing the circuit at contacts 6, the line contactor 43 for the motor 12 energized at the contact 75, and finally the line contactor 44 for the motor 8 will be energized at the contacts 77. It

has here been assumed that the pilot switch 69has been retained closed and the electromagnetic switch 42 has retained its switch member in the up position. It can thus be seen that the motors drivin the various belts are automatically starte and stopped in the desired sequence.

In case the supply of material to the lowering bin is about to cease temporarily and it is desired that the supply of material to the ship or other carrier eing loaded by the conveyor system shall continue; by throwing the manual switch 60 so that it makes engagement with its lower contacts, and by turning the controller 61 to the position b, the motor 8 will continue to operate as long as there is material in the lowering bin, but arrangements have now been made whereby the material in the storage bin 16 can supply material to the conveyer system at the proper time. The coil of the supplementary line contactor 78 for the con'tact." As soon as the switch members 49,

counterweight 23 to raise the chute.

56 and 51 areraised from their respective Contact the coils of electroma netic switches 78and 63 will be denergize at the switch member 49. The resultingopeningf of line cbntact r '78 will deenergize the motor 8 and the switch 63 will drop under the influence ofit e dash-pot 79. This dash pot lls'beenpro ided to give a time interval so t at the material on the belt 11 will have been movedpast the stora e bin before any material is supplied, to this belt from that bin. After "an interval has elapsed, the switch member will make en -agement with its corresponding contact an thereby energiz'e, the. line eontactor 64 of the motor 56 through a circuit from the source of supply, switch" member of electromagnetic switch 63, lower blade of manual switch 60 and segments 80 and 81 of the controller 61 and segments 83, 82 of controller 59 operated by the motor 56. The motor 56 will thereby be ener ized to lowerthe delivery chute 21 and when the chute has been fully lowered the line contactor 64 for motor 56 will be deenergized at the segments 82 and 83, thereby deenergizing this motor. The solenoid brake'fi lis simultaneously energized with the deenergization of the line contact-or 64 and thi's'brake' will bring the motor to rest gradually and hold the chute 21 in its lower position against the tendency of the It will also be noticed that the deenergization of the line contact or 64 has caused the switch member 65120 include the motor 56 in a dynamic braking circuit. The line contactor 85 for the motor25 is energized to close simultaneously with'the deenergization of the line co'iitactor 64 and the motor 25 will be energized from the source of supply andgradution with the operation of the motors 56 and 251" Assume that the motor 25 is operating as abpve described and it is desired that the supply of material to the belt 11 shall cease for an interval, the controller 61 will be turned to the off position thereb deenergizing the motor 25 and the so enoid brake 84. The delivery chute '21 will be gradually elevated by counter weight 23, and the motor 56 now being included in a dynamic braking circuit will operate as a generator so as to causethe chuteto heelevated gradually. The belts .1-1 and, lwill however continue to run. When, it isdesired that the supply of materials from the storage shall be resumed, the cpntroller 61 will be turned to either the position 5 or c, dependin upon the belt 24 or 26 which it is desire shall feed material to the main belt 11. i

Assume that the auxiliary feeder belt. 24

i e ge per a s hoy uex 1. e1 4 tatwsupp. 1 ari bin 4 is resumeii, iifili engthe w hers 49, 50 and 51'm'ake en agement, w th; respective contacts, the' inel eoritaetor 78. for motor 8 will be'energized to closeand connect the motor 8, to the source of suppl The coil of electro-maguetie switel fifp wi 1 also be energized and this switehwill gradually raise its switch member out of 'wg ment with its corresponding contact. hen this happens the solenoid brake 48. and;the line contactor 85 for the motor25 are deenergized and the belt. 24, automatically stopped. The delivery chute 21 will be automatically gradually elevated in.the.m er heretofore explained. The belt 24 willv e stopped and the delivery chute 21 will be elevated before the material being supplied to the main conveyer belt 11 by the-feeder belt 7 has reached the delivery chute 21, thereby. avoiding delivery of materi to the belt 11 at a time when it is alrea, y fully, loaded. Inorder to stop the entire e uipment the switches 69, 68, 61and 60, w' 1 be operated in a manner obvious to those skilled in the art.

In Fig. 4 I have shown in simplified diagram an arrangement for controllin the driving motors which embodiesall 0%, the features of Fig. 3,buthas,means combined with the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 whereby further objects may, beobtamed. In general, it maybe saidthat with this arrangement shown in Fig. 4 I-am able to control the conveyer, belts, in such a way that the feeder belts may be operated either singly or in various combinations so as to deliver material to the belt 11, which, it will be understood is a delivery belt for the feeder belts, in such a manner that predetermined amounts of material may be taken from the various receptacles and delivered by the system in a predetermined manner.

With this arrangement, I am ableto not only carry out the objects sought in connection with the arrangement shown in Rigs.

1, 2 and, 3, but a great variety of..further,130

useful objects are obtained. Thus by filling the receptacles 6', 86 and 87 with suitable materials, I am able to charge blast furnaces, coke ovens or the like, mix medicines, clays, ore, coal or the like, assemble parts of a machine, fill receptacles with various materials and articles, deliver glassware, projectiles, packages, or the like to be loaded in ships, box cars or other receptacles, as well as numerous other uses which will he obvious to those skilled in the art from an understanding of the invention. It will be understood that the receptacles 86 and 87 are not necessarily a part of the storage 16 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but that these receptacles may be entirely independent, as shown in Fig. 4; nor is the hopper (3' necessarily the same receptacle as that designated by the numeral 6 in Fig. 3, although, of course, it may be. These receptacles may he filled in any suitable manner.

With this arrangement, I am able to deliver from the final delivery belt 14, composite material made up of layers of predetermined amounts taken from each of the receptacles 6', S6 and 87, or a predetermined amount from one receptacle followed by predetermined amounts from the other receptacles in succession, the material from each receptacle taking up a section of the belt. Means are provided whereby any desired predetermined order of delivery of material from the receptacles to the belt 11 may be had; that is, the feeder belts may be operated continuously, intermittently, or successively; or the entire system operated continuously or for predetermined intervals so as to deliver material from the belt 14 in any desired manner, the arrangement being such, however, that the feeder belts cannot feed more material to the belt 11 than this belt and belt 11 can properly carry off. Means are also provided whereby the control of the system is responsive to the material in the receptacles; that is, the arrangement is such that if the material in any one of the receptacles becomes less than a predetermined amount, the system-will be automatically stopped, the belts being stopped in the proper sequence as set forth in the description of Fig. 3; and in case the supply of material in the receptacle is replenished, the belts are automatically started in the rope! sequence. Means are also provided or regulating the amount of material delivered from the receptacle, the arran ement being such that the speeds-of the fee er belts are automatically controlled so as to maintain a substantially uniform delivery of material from the various receptacles and in case any abnormal conditions occur such as a failure of the feeder belts to deliver material or to deliver more than a safe maxidmum, the system will be automatically shut own.

In Fig. 4 the reference numerals similar to those found in Fig. 3 designate the same pieces of apparatus and 'these pieces of apparatus are intended to operate in the same manner as in Fig. 3.

A particular description of such apparatus will not be given here because it is thought that an understanding of Fig. 3 will be sufficient.

Thecontroller 155 provides an arran ement whereby the speeds of the feeder be ts may be individually controlled and the speeds of the delivery belts 11 and 14 simultaneously controlled so as to be increased or decreased in a predetermined ratio to the increase or decrease of the speeds of the feeder belts, thus providing for satisfactorily carrying oil the material on the belts 11 and 14 when the amount of material delivered to these belts is varied and automatically limitin the amount of material to the capacity of the delivery belt. The controller comprises a contact lever fulcrumed'at its middle point 88 and having two arms of equal length, the one arm having a contact 89 for energizin the line contactor 90 to close the circuit 0 the motor 8 driving the feeder belt 7 and another contact 91 for varying the resistance in the field of the motor 8 so as to vary the speed of this motor. The other arm has a contact 92 for energizing the line contactor 64 of the motor 56 so as to lower the directing chute 21 and energize the motor 25 driving the feeder belt 24 when the chute is fully lowered. A contact 93 is also provided for varyin the resistance in the field of motor 25. I The controller has also a contact lever fulcrumed at 94, the end of one arm of which forms the hinged fulcrum 88 for the contact lever previously mentioned. This arm is one-half the length of the other arm to which the contact 95 for energizin the line eontactor 66 for the motor 55 an the contact 96 for varying the resistance in the field of the motor 27 are attached. The contacts 97 and 98 for varying resistances in the fields of the motors 12 and 15, respectively, are attached to the remaining arm of the controller which is hinged at 94. The controller 155 provides an arrangement whereby any one, all or any desired combination of the motors 8, 25 and 27 driving the feeder belts may be operated and the speeds of these motors independently varied. A movement of an one of the arms for varyin the speed 0 its correspondingmotor wi I produce one-third of the movement in the contacts 97 and 98 for varying the speeds of the motors 12 and 15, respectively. Thus, a movement of one of the arms one unit of distance will produce a movement of one-third the unit in the contacts 97 and 98; with the first arm left in that position, a movement of another arm a. unit of distance will produce another move- &

ment of one-third the unit in the contacts 97 and 98; and the movement of the last arm aunit of distance will produce a corresponding movement of one-third the unit. I11 that manner, a movement ofall the arms a unit of distance will produce a movement of the contacts 97and 98 a unit of distance, or a movement of any one of the arms three units of distance will produce a movement of thecontacts 97 and 98 a unit of distance.

T his-providesfon varying the speeds of thefeeder belts so as to deliver any predetermined amount ofmaterial and atthe same.

time variesthe speed of the belts 11 and 14 so as to properly carry off the material delivered. The value of the resistance in the motor fields will be predetermined so as; to

carry thisobject into effect. Any preferred;

form ofcontroller may be employed.

The. regulator 99 is provided for maintaining the delivery of a predetermined amount of material from-the receptacle 6.

Each of the reoeptacles86 and 87 is pro-,

vided with a similar regulator, although for the sake of clearness inthedrawing certain nously with the belt ll through the gearing 106, and the other; ends of theidifl'elentlals.

are. driven by the flexible shafts107, 108 and 109, respectively. Since the planetary gear arrangements for driving these flexible shaftsare identical, a description of the one associated with the feeder belt 7 will sufiice. The part of this feeder belt on which the material rests while being delivered from the receptacle 6' is supported by the-yield iug supports 110 to 114 inclusive and the support 112 engages the arm 115 of a lever having a cam slot 116 in its other arm in which a pin attached to the pivoted arm 117 slides. At the end of the pivoted arm 117 is located a contact roller 11-8 freely rotatable with respect to the arm 117' and secured to the flexible shaft 107. This roller 118 isswitch contact member 100 will then be moved through the end of the differential driven by the gearing 106 to make engagement with the contact segmentr120i soas to cause the deenergization of all the driving motors and thus stop the conveyor system. The sameresult is secured when-,thebelt .7 stops while the belt 11 continues to .run. When the proper weight of material is: over the support 112, the switch contact member will be in the position shown in- Fig. 6, and when the Weight of material exceedsthe predetermined maximum, the roller 118' will be moved to the dotted line position of Rig, 5, causing the switch 100 to be moved through thedifferential tomake engage: ments with the contact 121, thus-causing-the deenergizationof the driving motors and etc ping the-system.

l hen the switch .100 is moved to make engagemcntawith the segment .122, the speed: of the motor driving the feedenbelt is-de- 5 creased so as to, deliver less material .andiin case theiweight of material isstillgmator thanthe predetermined value and the switch 100 is moved to make engagement with: contact segment 123, thespeed of the motors driving the belts 11 .and.14sis increased so as to automatically provide for. carrying off this greater amount of material. hecontact 124 is provided for increasing the speed of the feeder belts so as to deliver more lnaterial from the receptacle. Ordinarily, this switch will oscillate between the contacts 122 and 124 so asto automatically maintain the delivery of a substantially uniform amount of material from: the receptacle. 100 The cam slot 116- and the adjustable connection 112 provide means whereby an accu rate adjustment of 'the device may be-h-ad. It will be apparent that any preferred form of regulator may be employed.

The drum controller 125 which is moved synchronously with the belt 11, is provided for effecting any predetermined order of de livery of material from the receptacles 6, 86 and 87. This controller is provided with a plurality of stationary contact fingers which are adapted to engage contact segments on the drum and control the energization of the feederbelt motors 8, 25 and 27. Referring to Figs. 7 and 8 which show plan and sectional views, respectively, of the con troller drum, the continuous conductor 126 is provided for energizing the drum from the source of supply and the segments 127 for controllin the energization of the 1110- tors drivin tie feeder belts are made up ofa plurality of small segments each having a pin adapted to be inserted in rows of holes suitably arranged on the periphery of the drum. By adding or taking off these smallse ents and by making up segments on the rum of a plurality of these small segments at any desired place around the periphery of the drum, I am able to exactly predetermine the duration of operation 'of 130 each feeder belt and thus the amount of material delivered from the receptacle, 'as well as to operate the feeder belts in any predetermined order of succession: thus, the feeder belts may all be operated continuously, a. part continuously and others intermittently, or all of them intermittently in any desired order of succession, or any other desired combination.

The timing arrangement 128 comprises a switch member which is driven by any suitable constant speed motor such as a clock mechanism,- and is adapted to periodically make and break the circuit of the operating coil of the switch 52 when the switch 129 is open, thereby automatically starting and stopping all or the entire part of the conveyer system which has been selected for use and in that way deliver material from the belt 14 in a manner best suited to the particular necessities of the occasion. I

The diaphragm circuit controllers 130, one for each of the receptacles 6', 86 and-87, are provided for interrupting the coil circuit of the switch 52 to denergize the various driving motors being used when the material in any one of the receptacles is less than a predetermined minimum.- A sectional view of this device is shown in Fig. 9. It comprises a flexible metal diaphragm which is adapted to operate a switch contact member 131 so as to make an electrical contact when the material in the receptacle presses against the diaphragm and to open the contact when the pressure of the material is relieved. Short -circuiting switches are provided whereby each of these diaphragm contact makers may be rendered ineffective independentl of the others and the switch 132 is provided for rendering all of these devices inefi'ective.

As thus constructed and arranged the operation of my invention is a follows: With the manual switch 133 thrown to make engagement with its upper set of contacts and all of the other devices in the positions shown in Fig. 4, the operation of my invention is identical with that set forth fully in connection with the arrangement of Fig. 3 and it is considered unnecessary to repeat those features of the operation of the complete arrangement. The automatic starting arrangement for the motor 15 has been indi cated at 134'.

Let it be assumed that proper amounts of material of the desired kinds are being supplied to the receptacles 6', 86 and 87 in any suitable manner and that it is desired that the delivery of material shall incorporate some or all of the new features peculiar to Fig. 4. Assume that it is desired to deliver variable amounts of material from the re- ('cptncles and at the same time control the speeds of the belts 14 and 11 so as to properly deliver the material supplied from the receptacles. With the parts in the positions shown in the drawing, by closing the switch 68 and then closing the switch 69, the motors 15 and 12 will be started in succession with the desired time interval, but motors 8, 25 70 and 27 will not start since the controlle'r61 is in the off position and the other controlling switches have not been closed. The manual switch 134 will-now be closed since the control by the lowering bin contacts 49, 50 and 51 is not desired for the operation about to be explained. Thisswitch 134 merely short circuits contacts to render the switches 49, 50 and 51 ineffective and thus cause the operating coil for the switch memher 52 to be energized to close thecontacts 76, 75 and -77 after which the manual switch 68 may be opened. The switch 135' will now be closed so as-to control the 'fields of motors 8, '25uan'd 27 and the'controller 85 will now be operated. The line'lswitch' for motor 8,1ine'switch 64 for motor. 56, and line s'witch 66-for motor 55, will be: energized-by moving thecontacts 89, 92 and 95, respctivelyfintb engagement withitheir 90 respective stationaryfcontacts, the .bOilS of these switches receiving energy through the contact 77 associated with the automatic starting and stopping switch 52. Thefeeder. belt 7 will thus-be started and themoto'rs 95 25 and 27 will be energized to start the. feeder belts-24 and 26, respectively, "when the motors 56 and 55, respectively,"have. lowered the directing chutes 21 and 20. The" belts 7 and 24 will be operated at *such aspeed and "the directing chutes 21 and 20 will be so disposed with respect to thebelt 11 that these directing chutes will not interfere with the material on the belt 11 which has been delivered from the receptacles 6' and 86. The speeds of the motors 8, 25 and 27 will be varied by moving the! arms of the controller 155 so that the con. tacts 91, 93.and 96' will be $01 positioned as to include thedesired amount ofresistance in the shunt fields of the motors and thus deliver the amount of material desired from each of the receptacles. The contacts 97 and 98 will at the same time be automatically moved, so as to vary the resistances in the shunt fields of the motors 12 and 15, respectively, so that the material delivered from the receptacles will be limited as to its maximum by the capacity of the delivery belts 11 and 14 at varying speeds.

Assume that the arms of the controller 155 have been moved to the positions at which the desired amount of material is being delivered from the receptacles and 120 that it is desired that this delivery be automatically maintained. The switch arm 100, of the regulator 99 and the switch arms 101 and 102 of the similar regulators associated with feeder belts 24 and 26 will be adjusted x rheostats 1138, 139 and 140 for the motors 8, 25 and 27,-Tespectively. Each of these rheostats i-s "individually controlled b a motor similar to the motor 141 provlded for varying the rheostat 140, but for the sake of clearness the motors for the rheostats 138 and 139 have not been shown. The dperation of this arrangement will be explained in connection with the regulator 99, sincewtheoperation of this regulator in controlling-the motor 141 and the 'rheostat 140 is-similar to the control for the rheostats=138 anfl 139which-havenot been shown but. will'be readily understood. When the material? being delivered from the receptacle 6. isr-lessthan the predetermined amount, the switch arm 100 will be moved by the regulator 99: secs to make engagement with the contact 124, the motor-1451 will be energ'ized" with the field winding-142 in circuit andthe .rheostat "140 will be moved toincrease'the -'r'es istance in the field of motor 8 and-thus isncreasethe? speed of this motor so that the feeder belt 7 will deliver more materia-l.' In case the material on the belt 7 is greater than the predetermined maximum, the switch arm 100 will be moved toi make engagement with the contact 122, therelby energizing the motor 141 with the hold winding 143 in circuit, and since this winding is reversely wound to the winding 1 42, the motor will be operated to decrease the speedof motor 8. a

The closingof the switch 137 connects the regulating rheostats 144 and 145 in the field circuits of the motors 12 and 15, respectively. These rheostats are operated together by the motorMG -having-the reversely wound field magnets 14-? and 148. When the switch arm of theregulator 99 makes engagement with the contact 123 due tothe material on the belt'll-being in excess 'of the predetermined maximum, the motor 146 is energized with the held 148 in circuit to move the rheostats 144 and-145 to increase the speeds of the motors 12 and 15 to take care of the excess of material being delivered from the receptacles. The motor 146 is operated in the other direction by ressing the push button 149 when the spec s of the belts 11 and 14 can-be safely reduced. The switches 101 and 102 of the regulators for the belts 24 and 26 respectively will control the rheostats 144 and 145 in the same manner as the regulator 99.

After the regulators have been adjusted so as: to maintain substantially constant the delive of material from the receptacles, theswitch 150 will; be closed, introducing a notlieryproteetive feature. Now, in case the regulator 99 moves the switch arm 100 into engagement with the contact 120dueto a substantial failure of delivery of material from the receptacle 6, the coil of relay 151 will be energized to pick up its contacts and open the circuit of the coil for switch 42, causing this switch to gradually drop its contacts and stopthe variousbelts-in the previously mentioned desinedvsucces'siverelation; that is, the feeder belts first, belt 11,.

and finally belt 14. The-pivotedcatch152 will retain the relay 151 in'itsupper'oropen position. moved so as to engage the contact121fidue to a weight of material oaths-belt hgreoltly in excess ofthe preideterminedmaximum,.

the relay 151 will likewisebe energizedto pick up its contacts and causethe stopping of the belt system. The. I? to 99- for the belts 24 -andi2fi cohtml the relay 151 in the samemamter astthe lator99. a

delivered from each receptaelashal-l-be de-.

termined by the length of timeits feeder belt operatesand that material isxto'be delivered fromwhe receptacles towthe belt 11 in any predetermincdorder ofauccession as determined 1 by the length of the segments 127 on the controller 125 an d-th'e. ition of these segments on the drum. e controller 155 will be adjusted to regulate the speeds of the various belts so as to deliver material at the desired rate. The switch 133 will now be closed on its lower set of contacts, the switches 153 and 154 will be opened and the controller 61 will be moved to the position a.

Control of the motors driving the feeder belts is thus given to thedrum controller 125 and these feeder belts willfibe started and stopped in the manner determined by the contact segments 127..

The opening of the switch 132 will put the diaphra m controllers 130 into operation so that in case thematenial in any one of the receptacles is reduced to such an extent that the diaphragm associated with that receptacle is permitted to bulge out and open the circuit of theoperating *coil of switch 52 at. the contact 131-, the switch 52 In case the switch arm 100 .18.

egulaltcnszslmilar will gradually drop and stop the feeder belts belt 14 first, the belt 11 next and the feeder belt or belts last.

When it is desired that the entire conveyer system or the part selected for use shall be periodically started and stopped, the switch 129 will be opened so as to permit the periodic make and break of the circuit for the operating coil of switch 52, thus opening and closing this switch to start and sto the driving motors. will be readily understood that while certain of the features of my invention are operable to effect certain results when other features of my invention are not being used, it will readily be understood that numerous combinations of the arrangements are possible.

For purposes of illustration and an understanding of the principles of my invention I have shown an arrangement for controllin the speeds of the driving motors by the we l-lmown field control method but it will be understood that any of the wellknown methods of controlling the speeds of the motors may be used as the particular installation may require.

While I have described my invention as embodied in concrete form and as operating in a specific manner in accordance with the rovisions of the patent statutes, it shou d be understood that 'I do not limit my invention thereto, since various modifications thereof will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims,

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination in a conveyer system of a series of conveyers, means for driving the said conveyers, and a controller for automatically starting the said series in succession beginning-with the delivery end of the system and stopping the series in succession in inverse order. 2. The combination in a conve er system of a series of conveyers, means fiir driving the conveyers, and means responsive to the delivery of material to the system for automatically startin said series in succession beginning with the delivery end of the system and stopping the series in succession in inverse order.

3. The combination in a conveyer system of a plurality of conveyers arranged in series relation,'a separate driving motor for each of said conveyers, an automatic controller for starting and stopping the said driving motors, and connections whereby the conveyers are automatically started in succession beginning with the delivery end and sto ped in succession in inverse order, responslvely to the delivery and cessation of delivery of material to the system.

'4. The combination in a conveyer system of a series of conveyers, means for driving the said conveyers, and a controller and connections whereby the conveyers are started in a certain succession and stopped in Succession in the inverse order.

5. The combination in a conveyer system of feeder and delivery conveyers arranged in series relation, means for driving the conveyers, and a controller for automatically starting the delivery conveyer first, the feeder conveyer second, and automatically stopping the feeder conveyer first and the delivery conveyer second.

6. The combination in a conveyer system of a plurality of conveyers arranged in series relation, separate driving means for each of said conveyers, means for gradually starting'rth'econveyers, and a control for the conveyer system having connections whereby each conveyer is automatically started beginning with the delivery end as each preceding: conveyer reaches a predetermined speed, and are automatically stopped in succession as each conveyer beginning at the receiving end stops.

7. The combination in a conveyer system,'of feeder, intermediate, and delivery conveyers'arranged in series relation, means for 'drivingjthe said conveyers, and an au: tomatic control for starting the delivery conveyer and bringing this conveyer up to a predetermined operating speed, then starting the intermediate conveyer and bringing this conveyer up to a predetermined operating speed and finally starting the feeder conveyer, the said automatic control having means for automatically stopping the conveyers in succession beginningwith the feeder conveyer.

8. The combination in a conveyer system of feeder, intermediate and delivery conveyers arranged in series relation, means for driving the said conveyers, an automatic controller for starting the conveyers in successionbegi'nning with the delivery conveyer and stopping the conveyers in succession beginning with the feeder conveyer, and a manual control for the said automatic controller.

9. The combination in a, conveyer system of a. plurality of conveyers arranged in series relation, means for driving said conveyers, control for the conveyers for starting theseries of conveyers in succession beginning at the delivery "end of the system, and automatic means'responsive to the oessation of delivery of material to the system for the stopping of the conveyors in inverse order as each conveyer has been fully discharged:

10. The combination in a conveyer system of a plurality of conveyers arranged in series relation, means for driving the said conveyers, means responsive to the delivery of material to the system for automatically starting said series in succession beginning with the delivery end of the system and means responsive to the cessation of dethe feeder to livery of material to the system for vautomatically stopping the series in succession beginning at the receiving end of the system as each conveyor discharges to the next succeeding conveyor.

11. The combination in a conveyor system, of feeder, intermediate and delivery conveyers arranged in series relation, a controller for automatically starting the conveyers in succession beginning with'the delivery end and for automatically stopping the conveyers in succession beginning at the feeder end as each convey-er has been fully discharged.

12. The combination in a conveyor system, of feeder, intermediate and delivery conveyers arranged in series relation, a separate motor for driving each of 531d -c-onveyers, a control for the driving motors whereby the delivery conveyer is operated at the highest speed, the intermediatereon veyer at a lower speed and the feeder conveyer at the lowest speed, and a motor controller operated =responsively to the delivery and cessation of delivery of tmaterialto-the feeder conveyer for startin the motordriving the deli-very conveyer irst,-the intermediate conveyer second and the feeder conveyer last, and stopping the motors successively in inverse order.

13. In a conveyer system, a pluralityrof conveyers arranged in series relation, the capacity of said conveyers increasing from the feeder to the delivery end of the system,

- means for driving said conveyers,=and: automatic means responsive to the delivery of material to the feeder end-of the system for varying the speed of the conveyers andpreserving a predetermined relation between the capacities of said conveyers.

14. The combination in a conveyer system of. a plurality of conveyers arrangedin series relation, means for driving each 0 said conveyers at varying speeds, automatic means responsive to the delivery and cessation of delivery of material to the system for starting and stopping saidconveyers, a controller whereby the speed of said conveyers can be varied at will, and connections whereby no conveyor can deliver to the next succeeding belt more material-than such conveyor can discharge.

.15. In a conveyer system, a plurality of conveyers arranged in series rrelation, the capacity of said conveyers increasing "from the delivery :end of the-system, means for driving said conveyers, .and a control for said driving means for varying the relative speed of any selected conveyers of the series and automatically preserving the said order of conveyer capacities increasing from the feeder to the delivery .end of the'system.

l6.1In a conveyor :system, a 'lurality -of conveyers arranged "in series re ation, sepaneeaaee rate driving means for each of said conveyers, means for varying the relative speeds of said conveyers and meansfiforautomatically stopping the conveyers inhcase any conveyerof the series delivers more material to the next sueceedi ngnconveyer than such succeeding conveyerycan discharge. V 17. The combination with aareceptacle for material, of means for conveying-the material therefrom, I and means responsive to the material in the said receptazcle foriautomatically starting, stopping and varying the speed of .the-conveyingmeans:

18. The combination in a system of conveyers of feeder and delivery conveyers arranged in series relation, meansfordelivering material to the feeder conveyer and meansrespon'sive to-idelivery of such unaterial to the feeder conveyer forgautomatically starting, stoppingand varying {the speed of the conveyers so ias ito' icontrol the amount of material delivered by the system. 19. The combinatiomin a zsystem' ofi loonveyers ,of a iplurality ofconveyers comprising feeder and deliveryz-comveyers arranged in series relation, meansfor driving zsaid conveyers, means fondelivering materialto the feeder conveyerian'd automatic means responsiveto the delivery of such material for varying the speed of the feeder so as to de.

liver substamtiallythe-maximum capacity of the systemlat varying speeds.

20. The combination WitHareceptacle-for material, of means ifor conveying material therefrom, comprising feederiand delivery conveyers arranged in series relation, aseparate driving motorcfor each of said conveyers, an automatic controller operated responsively to the materialin the race tacle for controlling the driving motors, an connections whereby the driving motors are automatically started and stopped and the speedof the feederconveyer motor is automatically varied by said controller so as to control the delivery of material from the receptacles. a

21. The combination with a receptacle-for material, of meansi'for conveying material therefrom, comprising feeder anddeli-very conveyers arranged in series relation, a: separate driving motor for eachiof said conveyers, anda motor controller operated responsivelyto the material in the said receptacles for energizing, denergizing and varying the speeds .of said motors-to control the pperatiom of? said conveyers.

22. The combination witha receptacle for material, of means for conveying material therefrom, comprising feeder and delivery belts arrangeden series relation, a separate motor for driving each of the said belts, and a controller for said driving-motors having means operated wresponsively .tothematerial in i he receptacle .for energizing and delinergizihg the motor driving the,feeder belt so as to control the delivery of material from the receptacle.

23. The combination with a receptacle for material, of means for conveying material therefrom. comprising feeder and delivery conveyors arranged in series relation. a separate motor for driving each of said conveyers. and a controller for said driving motors having means operated responsively to the material in the receptacle for energizing,

decnergizing and varymg the speed of the motor driving the feeder conveyer so as to control the delivery of material from the receptacle.

24. The combination with a receptacle for material, of means for convefying the material therefrom, comprising cedar and delivery conveyers arranged in series relation, means for driving the said conveyers, and means responsive to the material in the receptacle for varying the speed of the feeder conveyer and starting and stopping the said ronveyers so as to control the amount of matcrial delivered by the system;

25. The combination with a receptacle for material, of means for conveying the material therefrom,=co mprising feeder and delivery conveyors arranged in series relation, means for driving the said conveyers, and automatic means for varying the speed of the feeder conveyor and starting and stopping the said conveyors so as to control .the amount of material delivered by the system.

'26. The combination with a lowering bin and means for raising and loweringthe same. of means for conveying material therefrom. comprising feeder, intermediateand delivery conveyors arranged in series ,rela-. tion. means for driving the said conveyors, and means responsive to the raising and lowering of the lowering bin for controlling the operation of the feeder conveyer and thereby controlling the amount of material delivered by said conveyers.

27. The combination with a receptacle for material, of means for conveyin material therefrom. comprising feeder an delivery bolts arranged in series relation, a separate motor for driving each of the said belts, a diaphragm controller operated by the maleria] in the receptacle, and means whereby the operation of the feeder belt is controlled by the diaphragm controller so as to maintain at least a predetermined amount of mafcrial in the said receptacle.

:39. The combination with a receptacle for material, of means for conveying the material therefrom, comprising feeder and de livery conveyors arranged in series relation. means for driving the said conveyors, and automatic means for-starting said conveyers and varying the speed of the feeder conveyor so as to control the amount of material delivered by the system.

29. The combination with a receptacle for material and means for conveying the ma terial therefrom, comprising feeder and delivery convaiyers arranged in series relation, a separate riving motor for each ofsaid conveyers, a diaphragm circuit controller in the walls of the receptacle operated responsively to the material in the receptacle, and connections whereby the driving motors are automatically started and stopped by said diaphragm circuit controller responsively to the material in the receptacle. 7

30. The combination with a receptacle for material and means for conveying the material therefrom, comprising feeder and delivery conveyers arranged in series relation, 0. separate motor for driving each of said conveyors, a circuit controller in the walls of the receptacle for automatically starting and stopping the drivi motors responsively to the materialin t e receptacle, and a controller, operated responsively to the weight ofthe material on the feeder conveyer for controlling the speed of the feeder conveyor. f

31. The combination in a conveyor system of feeder, intermediate, and delivery conveyers arranged in series relation, a separate driving motor for each of said conveyers, an automatic controller for the mo tors operated responsively to the wei ht of material on the feeder conveyer, an connections whereby the conveyors are stopped in succession'beginning with the feeder conveyer.

32. The combination with a receptacle for material, of means for delivering material therefrom, comprising feeder, intermediate, and delivery conveyers arranged in series relation, means for driving said' conveyors, and means automatically operated responsively to the material in the said receptacle for starting the conveyers in succession be ginning with the delivery conveyor and stopping thesaid conveyers -in succession beginning with the feeder conveyer.

The combination with alowering bin and means for raising and lowering the same, of means for conveying material therefrom, comprising feeder and delivery conveyers arran ed n series relation, a separate motor for driving each of the said conveyors.

a motor controller operated responsively to the raising and lowerm ofthe lowering bin, and connections where y the operation of the feeder conveyer is started and stopped responsively int c lowering and raising of said bin.

34. The combination with a lowering bin and means for raising and lowering the same, of means for conveying material therefrom, comprising a plurality of conveyors arranged in series relation, a separate motor for driving each of the said conveyors. a motor controller operated responsively to and delivery conveyors the naisingand lowering ofthe=loweringbin having connections whereby the conveyers are started and stopped responsivcly to the lower-in and raisin of the lowering bin.

35. T 1e combination: with a lowering bin and means for raising and lowering the same; or means for j conveying material therefrom; comprising feeder, intermediate and 'delivery' conveyers' arranged in=' series relation, a separate motor for driving each of said conveyers; and a motor controller operated responsively' to the raising" and lowerin of the=lowering bin for stating the motor the delivery conveyor first, the intermediate second, the feeder conveyer last aaid stopping the motors sumvely' in inverse-order. I a

5 361- The cembihation'with a lowering bin,

of means for raising andlbwering'the same,

means forconveying material therefrom,

comprising feeder, intermediate and. de livery conveyors arranged in: series-relation, a' separate motor for" driving each of' saiei conveyers a-centrol forthe flying motors whereb the deliver conveyer is operated at the ighest spec theintermediate eonveyer at the next highest? speed and the feeder conveyer at the lowest speed, and. a motor controller operated responsivelyto the raising and-lowering of'the lowering bin for startin the motor drivingthe delivery conveyor rst, the intermed te conveyor secondgand the feeder conveyor last, and stopping the motors successively in inverse order. a

37'. The combinationwitha receptacle for material, and a loweringbin for deliver-in material thereto, offeeder, intermediate; an delivery eonveyersfor delivering material from the receptacle, driving means for the said conveyers;.man11ally= controlled means for startingthe delivery conveyer first, and thenthe intermediate. conveyer, and means forauwmmiically the feeder con veyer' responsively' to the lowering of thelowerin bin.

38. T e-combinatiun with a-receptaclefor material and a lowering bin for deliveringmaterialtheretm of feeder, intermediate,

fordelivering material from the receptacle; manually controlled autoniaizie livery conveyer and then-the intermediate cenveyer, and means indepemient of the said manually controlled automatic means and operated nesponsively to the lowering of the lowering bin for starting the feeder conveyer, and operated responsively' to the elevation-ofthe loweringbinfor' stoppin the conveyors in succession beginning wit the feeder conveyor:

39. The combinations with a lowering bin and a receptacle for material into which the bin discharges; of feeder. intermediate. and

r5 delivery conveyors" for delivering material means for starting the de naeense from the receptacle, means for driving the said conveyers, manually controlledmeans for automatically starting the conveyers in succession beginning with the delivery conveyer and stopping the conveyers in successionbeginning with the feeder conveyor,- and automatic means controlled by the lowering bin for starting and stopping the said conveyersin the succession named.

4:0: Thecombination with a receptacle for .matcrial and a lowerigg bin for-delivering fe e material thereto, of r and deliveryconveyers for delivering material from the receptacle'; driving means for the said conveyers, manually controlled means for startiug the 'delivery convcyer, and means for automatically starting the=feeder conveyer responsivel g to the lowering of the lowering him after t e delivery conveyor has been stantedi 41.-Th'e combination with a l'oweringbin ofme'ans for delivering material therefrom, conrprising feeder, 1 intermediate and delivery conveyers aa'rang'edin series relation, a separate dri vilig'"moter for eaeh'of said conveyersp and means automatically op erated res 'onsivelyto the: material in the lowering hmfor startin the motor driving the-delivering conveyer rst, the intermediate-second; the feeder conveyer last, and stopping the said motors successively in the iniverse order.

421 The-combination with a receptacle for material ofmeans for conveying the material therefrom; comprising feeder and delivery: con veycrs arranged in series relation, means for driving the said conveyers, and automatic means for energizing the said driving-'means so as to start the-conveyers in succession beginning with the delivery conveyer, and for stopping the said conveyers in'succwsion beginning with the feeder conveyer, and means codperating with the said automatic means and responsive to the material in said receptacle for maintaining an amount of material in the receptacle and fully discharging the material frcm'the dcliveryconveyer.

43. The combination in a conveyer system of a: plurality of conveyers arranged in series relation; means for driving the conveyers, andfmeans responsive to the delivery of materimlto'the system for automatically starting the series in succession beginning, with the delivery end and upon the cessationof delivcryuof mater'iabl'to the system stopping the conveyors in succession beginning at the receiving end after each conveyor has discharged its material.

444-. The combination with a receptacle for material, of a conveyor for delivering material therefrom,,means for driving said conveycr and automatic means for retaining a predetermined amount of material in said receptacle and stopping said-conveyer after p 150. The combination the material on the conveyer has been fully dischar ed.

45.1 e combination with a plurality of receptacles for, material, of a feeder conveyer: for -.each oi -said receptacles ;for de liverin material A therefrom, -means automaticafiy operated rcsponsively to v the ;materiaLin one of said receptacles-for controlling aportion, of said rfeeder conveyers, and means for selecting-the feederconveyers-to be subjected to :the ,said automatic operation. .L4'6-i-The comhinatiomwith a: receptac'leifor material; ofvme'ans femconveyixig-fthe'msilterialitherefrom', comp'risinglfee'der and delivery conveyers arranged in :series relation, means for driving the said conveyors,- and automatic means: controlled by! the material in theireceptacle fori'stopping the :feeder conveyen and thereafter 'sstopping the deliyeryeonveyer after the material lhasi been fully Hischargdfrbm the deliveryiconveyer'. .147 The combination in :a eon'veyen system ofia feederginteriiiediate and delivery eon- Veyers'mrranged i'n 'series relation, means dior driving the rsaid fconveyers andlani automatic controllemfon starting the conveyers succession beginning with-the idlireryi conveyor and for stoppingflthei feeder cmi'veyei'ufirst, the intermediate-conveyer :next after-thematerial .onxsirclr conveyer has -:bebi1 fu'll- :d-ischarged toithe dclivery'conveyenzand ally stopping; *thedelivery =.:conveyeiia iwheh the materialon this-"eonveyer-- as been ifully discharged! Aim er: '--,'L 18.- Dhe combinations with aa pluralityvo'f receptacles ioruin'aterial, of a feeder- 'FCOR: veyeii ufor :eaehmf said "receptacles fol-edelive'ring' material there from',- 1 a deli very conveyer :forfideliveriiig 'zmaterial u from the feeder conveyers, operated-responsively to-the material in a portion oi? said receptacles for controlling the ieeder" eonveyers :s'oi as I to maintaina substantially constant delivery of material from the{delivery-conveyed; 5 '49. The 'e'ombi'na'tion Lwitlr aplurality of receptacles 'for' material; 1515- a conveyer for delivering' mate'rial from ithe said rece taele's, .and mea'ns I automatically" opera ted re sponsiv'ely to the material-in a po'rtion of said receptacles for maintaining a substantially constant deliver of material: *from saidfir'eoeptacles" to: sair -delivery cbnveyer. i with a'plui-ality of receptaelesUfor material, of a -feeder con veyer 'for' each of'said 'reeeptacles'for deliverin' material therefrom; a separate motor for rivingeach-of said conveyers a motor controller in each of: i said 1 receptacles 0perated responsively to the material in the receptacles, and connections whereby the driving-motors arestopped when the material in any one of the receptacles is less than :rpr'edetermined minimum. a

rate motor for driving each of said and means automatically 51. The combination with a plurality of receptacles for material, of a eonveyer for delivering material therefrom, and means automatically operated responsively to a cessation ofdelivery of material from a portion of the rece tacles to the said conveyor for controlling t e delivery of material from the receptacles so as to maintain a substantiallyconstant delivery ofmaterial from the conveyer. 52. The'combination with a plurality of receptacles for material, of a feederzconveyer for each .of.said receptacles, asepafeeder conveyers,-and.a controller for automatically energizing and deiinergizing the-said driving motors temperate the eeder conveyors at-predeterminedintervjalsn c 3 =53. The combination-. with applurality of receptaclesier material,- of a feeder conveyenforreachaof said receptacles 'for deliveri'ng materialtherefrom, a delivery conveyer for deliver' material from the feeder; :conveyersaian meansi automatically operated responsivel' to a cessation of delweryxofrmater'ial rom -a .portion ,of the rece"taclesltoftheldeliveryiconveyer for contro ingithe feeder'co'nveyers so as to maintain h'rsubstantially='ieonstant delivery of material frdnrthe delivery conveyer. J

i: 54 :The combination with a receptacle for material,: :of ifeeder, ijiitermediate and P de livery conveyerst-arranged' inseries rela tion, means fordriving the conveyers, a controller forwthe eom'reyersi for Eantomatically' starting th conveye'rs in succession beginning with the 3 delivryu conveyer rand I automaticallv stopping-the conveyersxbeginning with the feeder conveyer; =and-means for automatically controllin the conveyers so as to maintain a constantdelivery of material from the delivery' conveyer. 7 r S 55. The combination with two receptacles for material, 'of a' feeder conveyor 'for each of said receptacles'for delivering material therefrom, adelivery conveyer for delivering material =fi'o'mrithe .feeder conveyer, separate driving-motors for each-0f said conveyers,'=a contrdllerfor the feeder conveyer drivi'ng' motors; and connections whereby the motor driving the first feeder com-eye! is'automatically stopped. and the motor'driving th'e'seeond feederconveyer is automatieallystarted so as to maintain a substantially constant delivery of material from the delivery'conveyer.

'56. The combination with a receptacle: for material, of a feeder conveyer foreach. of said receptacles, a separate motor for driving each of said feeder conveyers, a controller for automatically energizing and denergizing said driving; motors to operate the feeder conveyors at predetermined intervals, and a controller plurality of l for material, of a feeder conveys for selecting at will the feeder conveyor driving motors to be thus automatically energized and deenergized.

57. The combination with a lowering bin and two receptacles for material, the first of the receptacles rocoivin material from the lowerin bin, of a fo or conveyor for each of sai receptacles,a delivery conveyor for delivering material from the feeder conveyors separate driving motors for each of said convcyers, a controller for the motor driving the feeder conveyor of the first receptacle operated responsively to the raising and lowering of the lowermg bin, and connections where the feeder conveyor associated with t e first receptacle is automatically stopped and started responsive to the raising and lowering of the lowering bin, and the feeder conveyor associated with the second receptacle is started and stopped responsively to the stopping and starting respectively of the first feeder conveyor.

58. The combination with tworeceptacles r for eac of said receptacles for delivering material livery conveyor for therefrom, a delivery conveyor for delivering material from the feeder conveyersseparate driving motors for each of said conveyors, a controller for the feeder conveyor driving motors operated responsive to' the delivery and cessation of delivery of terial to one feeder conveyer, and connections whereby the feeder conveyor associated with the second receptacle is started and stopped responsivoly to the stopping and starting respectively of the first feeder conveyor so as to maintain a constant delivery of material from the delivery conveyer.

59. The combination with two receptacles for material, a feeder conveyor for each of the receptacles for delivering material therefrom, and a controller for the feeder conveyors operated responsively to the cessation of delivery of material to one of the receptacles for automatically stopping the feeder conveyor associated with this receptacle and starting the feeder conveyor associated with the other receptacle.

60. The combination with a receptacle for material, of a feeder conveyor and a edelivering material therefrom, means for driving the said conveyers, an automatic controller for the said driving means jointly controlled by the feeder and the delivery conveyors, and varying means for varying the speed of the said feeder conveyor so as to maintain a substantially constant delivery of material from the receptacle.

61. The combination in a conveyor system of feeder and delivery conveyors arranged in seriesrelation, driving motors for said conveyors, manually controlled means for starting the delivery conveyor, means cooperative with the feeder and delivery conveyor for automatically stopping and starting said feeder responsive to the delivery and cessation of delivery of material tothe feeder conveyor so long as said dolivery conveyer continues to run.

62. The combination in a conveyor system, of a delivery conveyor, a feeder for delivering material thereto, and an automatic controller controlled by said feeder and delivery conve ers jointl for controlling the delive 0 material said feeder so as to limit t e delivery of said material to the maximum capacity of the delivery conveyor.-

63. The combination with a plurality of receptacles for material, of a feeder conveyor for each of said receptacles for delivering material therefrom, meansfor varying at will the speed of each of'said conveyers independently ofthe other conveyors, and means automatically operated re sponsively to the material ina portion of said receptacles for controlling the delivery of materlal from the feeder conveyors.

64. The combination in a conveyor system of a plurality of feeder and a plurality of delivery conveyors, means for driving each of said conveyors at varying speeds, automatic means cooperative with the feeder and the delivery conveyors for varying the speed of the feeder conveyors so as to control the amount of material delivered by the system and connections with said automatic means for controllin the varying speed of the conveyors where y no delivery conveyor can deliver to the next succeeding conveyor more material than such conveyor can discharge.

65. The combination in a conveyor system, of feeder, intermediate and delivery conveyors arranged "in series relation, means for driving the said conveyors, a controller for automatically starting the conveyors in succession beginning with the delivery conveyor and stopping the conve ers in succession beginni with the fee or conveyor, and means for independently varying the speed of the feeder conveyor so as to vary the amount of material delivered by the system.

66. The combination with a plurality of receptacles for material, of' a feeder conveyer for each of said receptacles for delivering material therefrom, and a controller and connections for simultaneously varying the speeds of the said feeder conveyors so as to vary the amounts of material delivered from the said plurality of receptacles, the said controller having, means for selecting at will the feeder conveyors to be thus controlled.

67. The combination with. a plurality of receptacles for material, of a feeder con- 

